Requirements For Soil For Potatoes

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

In the requirements of the potato for the soil, it largely sets the tone for the peculiarities of its root system. It develops poorly and is mainly found in the arable layer. Therefore, it is important that the soil is loose and does not create additional resistance to growth. What types of soil are suitable for this, and what to do if the land on your site turns out to be unsuitable?

What to do with the wrong type of soil

The best option for growing potatoes is sandy loam and light loam with a good deep arable layer. A heavy clay type of soil can also be adapted to potato beds. To do this, go to the following trick: for 1 square meter. planting area is introduced 0, 1 cubic meters. coarse sand and at least 8 kg of organic matter.

If you got a low-fertile sandy area, the matter can also be improved. For this purpose, approximately 0.05 cubic meters are applied to the same area. clayey sod land and at least 5 kg of organic matter.

Why create favorable conditions for weed growth

Another important technique that does not allow the root system and growing tubers to deform, and also has a direct effect on yield, is soil digging. Plowing must be carried out deep, the mechanical composition must be finely crushed.

The main deep digging of the soil is carried out in the fall. But even up to this point, after harvesting early potatoes, it is recommended to peel the soil with a rake, harrow, pitchfork. The depth of stubble cultivation will be prompted by the clogging of the beds with weeds. If in the current season it was heading in the beds, the seeds could get to the surface and it is necessary to peel off about 5 cm deep. This will create favorable conditions for their germination so that next spring the pest can be immediately detected and removed from the beds. When the site was clean, for the purpose of prevention, the peeling depth is made at least 10 cm.

The first spring processing of the beds begins when the earth dries up and begins to crumble in the hands. This time it is loosened with a rake, a harrow. Such a measure will serve to better germination of weeds. This is a work for the future. Then they will be eliminated during the next processing. In addition, this technique reduces the loss of moisture in the ground due to evaporation.

Digging to the full depth of the arable layer is started when it thaws to this level. After work, the surface is immediately leveled.

How to fertilize potato beds

The soil must meet not only mechanical but also nutrient requirements. And since this vegetable takes a lot of trace elements from the ground, you should take care of the timely application and sufficient amount of fertilizers.

For different types of soil, there are such standards (figures per 100 sq. M.):

• on fertile land - 2 centners of manure, 1.5 kg of ammonium nitrate, 2 kg of superphosphate, 1 kg of potash fertilizers;

• insufficiently cultivated require - 3 centners of manure, 3 kg of nitrogen fertilizers, 3 kg of phosphorus fertilizers, 2.5 kg of potash fertilizers.

Manure can be replaced with mature, well-decomposed compost. When organic matter is not enough, when planting, a mineral mixture of 1 centner of humus, 1 kg of ammonium nitrate, 2 kg of superphosphate is introduced. Also, adding 7-10 kg of wood ash to the mixture helps.

You do not need to apply fertilizers all at once. The optimal mode of their use is the introduction of microelements into the beds two times and layer by layer. To do this, organic matter, potash fertilizers and two-thirds of phosphorus fertilizers are advised to be filled into the soil during fall plowing to a depth of approximately 15 cm. If this is done with deep processing, the plant will get roots to all of these nutrients very late. The remainder of the superphosphate together with nitrogen is used simultaneously with planting potatoes in the wells.